STOCKTON - Jordan Devencenzi has liked the fact that his starting catching job hasn't been safe for two years.

The sophomore has been pushed for the position by Marcus Mastrobuoni on the Delta College baseball team that opens the playoffs at 2 p.m. today. The sixth-seeded Mustangs host No. 11 Monterey Peninsula in a best-of-three series at Cecchetti Field in the California Community College Athletic Association Northern Regionals.

Devencenzi faces the Lobos (23-13) after being named the Big 8 Conference co-MVP on Wednesday along with Sierra's Nick Blaser.

"I'm so lucky to have Mastro with me as a friend and catcher," Devencenzi said. "We are two different kids from different areas who have made each other better."

Devencenzi joined Delta (24-12) out of West in 2011 as The Record's All-Area first-team utility player after hitting .438 as a senior. He won the Mustangs' starting catching job as a freshman over Mastrobuoni and hit .277.

This year, Devencenzi upped his hitting to .364 with two of Delta's four home runs. He has struck out twice in 107 at-bats but hasn't pulled away as the full-time catcher because of Mastrobuoni.

From Livermore-Granada High, Mastrobuoni has four strikeouts in 80 at-bats. He hit .500 last month in a pair of wins over Santa Rosa, the state's No. 1 ranked team. His .225 batting average is deceiving because several of his outs have been hard-hit balls. The four line-drive outs he's had in the last three games have summed up his season.

"I think I've stayed in the top of the (batting) order because people know I can hit," Mastrobuoni said. "I've been hitting it right at someone or someone makes an amazing play."

One of the catchers will catch on any given day with the other at designated hitter. Delta coach Reed Peters typically bats one of them third and the other fourth. Behind the plate, he says it's a push.

"Devencenzi is extremely good a blocking the ball," Peters said. "We can call a breaking ball in the dirt with a man on third base and be completely confident.

"Mastro is a guy who has a very good arm. He can completely shut down the running game."

They will be tested against a Lobos team that is on a seven-game win streak and snapped a 42-year conference-title drought by tying Cabrillo for the Coast Conference Pacific championship.

Nevada has taken notice of Devencenzi already and offered a scholarship. Mastrobuoni has yet to pick up an offer but said he is being pursued the hardest by UC Riverside right now.

"They love to practice and love to play," Peters said.

"They are going to be rewarded for it and someone is going to be lucky to have them."